Skinner believed people are not responsible for their actions, because:
a. their instincts of aggression are inborn.
b. they operate in predictable ways, controlled by external variables.
c. the inherent tendency of the human species is selfishness.
d. of the concept of free will.
ANS: B
FEEDBACK: From Skinner's scholarly writings to his popular novel about a utopian society based on operant conditioning his message is the same: Behavior is controlled by reinforcers. In a sense, this means that it is pointless to blame or punish people for their actions. In this view, a dictator who orders the mass killing of thousands of people, or a serial killer who murders a dozen, can no more be held responsible for their actions than can a driverless car that plunges down a hill. Both operate in lawful, predictable ways, controlled by external variables.
You might also like to view...
In a study in which a confederate of the experimenter dropped a load of books, participants who were high in the need for social approval helped more when they:
a. knew they were being observed b. had been made to feel guilty a few moments earlier c. knew the person who dropped the books d. had previously obtained a social reward for helping the experimenter e. when they were in a good mood
Although she has never met the actor Chris Rock, June believes that he is in love with her. This is an example of a
A. delusion. B. deception. C. hallucination. D. paranoia.